When the Alleged Father Cannot be Tested
Whenever possible, the paternity test is always the best option because parentage testing will always provide a conclusive result. However, in situations where the alleged father is unavailable for testing (e.g. alleged father is deceased or unable to participate), the alleged father's parents can be tested to investigate whether they are the true biological grandparents of the child. Please read the information below to understand the benefits and limitations of grandparentage testing before proceeding.
When conducting a grandparentage test, it is recommended to test both grandparents (the grandmother and the grandfather) in order to obtain the most conclusive results. If this is not possible, a grandparentage test can be conducted by testing only one grandparent.
Including the mother of the child in the grandparentage test will also help to increase the stringency of the test.
Testing the Grandmother, Grandfather, and the Grandchild
When both of the alleged father's parents are available for testing, the laboratory will examine the genetic profile of both grandparents and then use the genetic information of the grandparents to reconstruct the genetic information of the missing alleged father. Once the alleged father's genetic information is reconstructed, a paternity analysis will be conducted by comparing the reconstructed genetic information for the missing alleged father against the genetic information of the child.
Testing Only One Grandparent and the Grandchild
When only one grandparent is tested, the missing alleged father's genetic information cannot be reconstructed. In such situations, the laboratory will test the single grandparent and the grandchild and then compare their genetic information. Based on the type of genetic material expressed by each individual, the number of genes which are shared, and the pattern of expression of the genetic material, the laboratory will be able to perform a statistical analysis to generate the "grandparentage index". If the grandparentage index is less than 1.00, this indicates that it is more likely that the grandparent and grandchild are not related. However, if the grandparentage index is greater than 1.00, this indicates that it is likely that the grandparent is biologically related to the grandchild.
- Check the status of your test online and download your test report instantly when it is ready
- Results in 3 to 5 business days
What if the individuals to be tested live at different addresses, can you split the kit?
Yes, if the individuals to be tested live in different cities, or even different countries, we can split the kit and send each component to a different address. Since the kits are individually barcoded, the samples will still be tested together even if the are sent back separately. To order a split kit, please write the following into the comments box of the online order form "Please split kit". Please also indicate the name and address to send each component. For example, please state "send the Alleged Grandmother's portion to... (specify name and address)" and "send the Grandchild's portion to... (specify name and address).